💫She's Different💫

Bella's New Year Wish

12 AM (New Year's Day)
"Happy New Year!" Everyone said. I giggled and looked at all the streamers.
"Alright let's take a picture! Happy New Year!" I smiled and my Mom took the picture.
"I actually stayed up the whole time."
"I know. You finally did it baby!" She gave me a high five and I played with Jesse. Billie was with someone so she wasn't here.
"Do you guys have resolutions?"
"Well. I'm still thinking. How about you Bella?"
"I don't have a resolution. I have a wish."
"That sounds interesting. Let me hear it."
"No because that'll ruin it!"
"I see." My Mother answered her phone and I sighed because I knew what would happen.
"Okay. Alright. I'm coming right now."
"What happened?"
"Kids, go upstairs."
"Is it okay if Jesse stays the night? My sitter is away."
"Of course she can stay. Bella, be a darling and give Jesse a nightdress to wear for the night."
"Okay."
"Jesse. Come here for a minute."
"What is it Mama?" I went to my room and get Jesse a night dress. I closed my door and changed into one as well.
"Bella, your Mommy wants you to come downstairs." I went down and she opened her arms.
"Come here,"
"What's wrong?"
"I have to go to work, Lucy is downstairs. I need you to be a really good girl for me and go to sleep and tomorrow we'll talk. Understand?"
"I understand." I gave her a hug and she gave me loads of kisses.
"Sleep well, and call Noah for me."
"Alright. Night everybody."
"Night." I went into my bed and Jesse was already asleep. I sat and looked up at the ceiling. My New Years wish was that I wished that I could be a nice person and that this year could be really really different than every other year. I wanted to be different!
**********
32nd Street & Broadway (Olivia's Perspective)
"Sweetheart, it didn't have to be like this."
"Yes it does! Can't you see that what happened to me was all my fault?!" Alexa yelled. Everyone started to stare and I pulled her into a corner.
"You didn't ask for that to happen to you, you didn't deserve that. You're only 12. Steven took something away from you, something that can never ever be replaced. He stole your childhood! You should be outside playing with your friends, gossiping with your friends. What he did to you was unacceptable and it wasn't your fault at all."
"Are you a mother?"
"I am, actually. I have a son and a daughter."
"You're probably a good mother to them. I don't know what that feels like."
"Oh sweetheart." I gave her a hug as she cried and I let go to ask her a question.
"How about, you stay at my house for the night? Just until we find you somewhere to stay."
"That would be nice."
"Alright, my children would love to meet you. You must be so hungry, would you like something to eat before we go to my place?"
"No thanks,"
"Are you sure? You look tired and hungry."
"I'm sure." I looked at the time on my watch and it read 3:50. It was a Wednesday, so the kids or at least one of them was home right now.
"Nice ride." Alexa commented.
"Thanks." There was traffic as always so every once and a while we'd talk a little bit.
"When my Dad was alive, he's take me to the park." I saw her eyes watering and I felt so bad for Alexa.
"If you don't want to say it, you don't have to." She choked on her tears as I parked the car in the car garage.
"It's okay Lexi. It's okay."
"Olivia,"
"What is it?"
"I want to talk to you about something."
"How about we talk in my room? After you settle in." She nodded and I took her across the street to my townhouse. I opened the door and I could hear Bella singing with Chase.
"I'm home!"
"Mommy!" She flew down the stairs in her gymnastics gear and gave me a hug.
"This is Alexa. Say Hi."
"Hi, My name's Bella! Nice to meet you Alexa."
"Nice to meet you too Bella."
"Bella, can you show her the guest room?"
"Sure Mommy!" I went to go talk to Lucy and I decided to go pick up Noah from basketball. I went upstairs to check on the girls and Bella was in the room watching Alexa.
"Do you like dolls?" She asked.
"Not really anymore."
"Bella, let Alexa settle in."
"Sorry,"
"Do you want to come with me to pick up Noah?"
"Yes."
"Go upstairs and grab a jacket love." When she was gone I sat next to Alexa.
"She's really cute."
"Thanks,"
"Is she yours?" She asked curiously.
"She's my adoptive daughter."
"Aw,"
"But, do you want to talk when I get back from picking up my son?"
"Yeah sure,"
"Mommy, I'm ready!"
"Okay Bella, give us a minute."
"My babysitter Lucy is downstairs if you need anything."
"Thank you so much."
"Don't mention it."
********
East 69th Street (Bella's Perspective)
"Mommy, why is Alexa in our house?"
"She needed somewhere to stay."
"She's staying for a while?"
"Only for tonight," She fixed my jacket and gave me a kiss.
"Thank you for being so kind about it. You made me really proud, okay?"
"Yeah, I like making you proud." She laughed as Noah came over.
"How was practice baby?"
"Cool. Hey Bella!"
"Hi brother." We went to go get some frozen yogurt.
"Mom, can I get a lot of yogurt?"
"Hmm, you just want me to be broke, don't you missy?"
"Well, maybe. But more ice cream equals bigger tummy and bigger tummy equals happy tummy." My Mom snorted a bit and helped me with the yogurt.
"You're too funny," After she payed we sat at the table and Mommy told Noah about Alexa.
"I want you both to be extremely respectful. Understand?"
"Yeah, we will. We promise."
"Thank you so much. I really appreciate that."
**********
Central Park (Olivia's Perspective)
Occasionally, I take Bella to the park and we sit and talk. Today, felt different though. It really did.
"I lost my last tooth Ma!"
"That's great honey! You look so cute!" The reason why it felt different, well-
"I'm going to middle school next year September Mommy."
"That's right." After having Alexa around for that one night, it reminded me that my daughter is starting to grow up. The things that I've tried my hardest to shelter her from she'll soon figure out. She'll learn these things either from the Internet...or her friends. I can't protect Bella from everything eventually. Soon, she'll stop calling herself  "Olivia Benson's daughter" and will start to grow into her own identity. Which, I'm not scared of. I can't wait to see the type of young woman she'll grow up to be. It's just sad, however. One second they're so cute and little, and want to be just like you and the next they're getting bigger and challenging you whenever they can. It's just so amazing how time flies by so fast.
"Look at that cute dog Mommy. It's so cute."
"It's really adorable." I was so immensely proud of Bella, she's come so far. She's come so far from being scared to speak to anyone, to now being really expressive and loving to socialize. It's been such an amazing journey and I wouldn't change it for the world!
"Bella, do you think that even when you're a teenager that you'll love me?"
"Well..I guess so."
"You guess so?" I wrapped my arms around her waist and she sat in my lap. She let out a large laugh and I couldn't help but laugh too.
"I love you a lot! Just,"
"Just what?!" I gave her a kiss and let out a small sigh.
"What's wrong?"
"You're just getting so big!" My eyes started to water and Bella got confused.
"Why are you crying Mommy?" She wiped my face and I fixed my hair.
"Feel better Mommy,"
"I'm okay honey, I'm okay. Go play," As she ran to the playground I realized something. I couldn't sit over here and be sad.
"Mommy, look at that cool slide! I'm going to try it!" As Bella is growing up she's going need me more, possibly more than she ever did before. I couldn't sit over here and be upset. I needed to be there with her, every step of the way. No matter how hard it may get, no matter how hard she'll try to work my nerves I needed to there for her, and for my son as well. They both need me, and I need to adapt so that I can help them as much as I possibly can.
"Mommy, come and look at what I found!"
"I'm coming right now darling."